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Revision as of 18:59, 11 December 2005 by Jcdpi (talk | contribs) (→Criticism)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)This is an article about the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. For the article on Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, see Miami University.
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The University of Miami (also commonly referred to as "UM" or simply "The U") is a private university, founded in 1925, with its main campus in the city of Coral Gables in metropolitan Miami, Florida.
The university is typically ranked as one of the top-100 academic institutions in the United States. This was most recently exemplified in U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of United States colleges and universities for 2006, which ranked the University 55th nationally. The University of Miami is particularly well known for its programs in business, marine biology, medicine and music, which rank among the very best in the nation. In 2005, the average weighted grade point average for students granted admission to the university was 4.0 and the median SAT score was 1316. Sixty-three percent of University of Miami students ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class.
The current president of the university is former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Donna Shalala.
Overview
The University of Miami has a student body of over 15,000, and its campus spans 240 acres (1 km²) in Coral Gables. Several university satellite campuses are located in South Florida, most notably the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key, and the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, which is located at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the city of Miami. The University of Miami is the largest private employer in South Florida.
The school colors are orange, green and white, which represent the different parts of the orange blossom tree.
The university is also home to the Iron Arrow Honor Society, one of the most selective and prestigious student honors organizations of any major U.S. university or college.
In 2004, the University of Miami's Convocation Center was the site of the first nationally televised U.S. presidential debate of the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, featuring President George W. Bush and his ultimately unsuccessful challenger, John Kerry.
Organization
The university is organized into eight colleges:
- School of Architecture
- College of Arts and Sciences
- School of Business Administration
- School of Communication
- School of Education
- College of Engineering
- Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music
- School of Nursing and Health Studies
The university also has three graduate-level schools:
- University of Miami School of Law
- Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, which operates a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory on-board the Explorer of the Seas.
In addition, there is a Department of Continuing and International Education.
Athletics
For a more in-depth article on the university's football program, see: Miami Hurricanes Football.
The University of Miami has one of the most successful athletic programs in major collegiate sports. The university's sports teams are called the 'Miami Hurricanes' and compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Its traditional athletic rivals include the Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators. Team colors are green, orange, and white, and the school mascot is 'Sebastian the Ibis'. The ibis was selected as the school's mascot because, according to legend, it is the last animal to flee an approaching hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm, making it a symbol of leadership and courage. Many refer to Miami simply as "The U," as the school's logo is a simple green and orange letter "U". The logo is among the most recognizable in college athletics.
Miami has been particularly dominant in football, where the Hurricanes have won five Division I national championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001). With four of Miami's five national championships coming in an eight year span from 1983 to 1991, that period in college football is sometimes dubbed "The Decade of Dominance." All five of Miami's national championships have come since 1983, making it the most successful college football program of the past 25 years (Nebraska is second during that time span with three national championships). Miami has also produced two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992. The current head coach of the football team is Larry Coker. The team plays its home games at the historic Miami Orange Bowl, located off-campus, in the city of Miami.
Miami is also the preeminent college football program in terms of producing NFL talent: Miami holds the record for most players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (six in 2004), as well as most first round draft picks in a two-year period (11 in 2003 and 2004) and most first round draft picks in a three-year period (15 from 2002 to 2004). Since the 2002 draft, an astounding 33 Hurricanes have been selected in the NFL Draft.
In addition to its success on the gridiron, Miami has one of the top baseball programs in the nation. Hurricane baseball teams have won four national championships (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001) and are a mainstay at the College World Series, having reached the event 21 times, all coming since 1974.
Because of Title IX restrictions, as well as the fact it is a private school, the university only fields a total of 15 teams. In addition to football and baseball, men's teams compete in basketball, cross-country, tennis, track and field, and diving. Women's teams compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Criticism
The Unvierstiy of Miami, in a census of 195 colleges in North America from the Chornicle of Higher Learning dated August 3, 2001, was cited as the second worst in pay for its janitors, and was one in twelve unversities that paid below the federal poverty line(*1). Many of the four hundred service employees who work under Unicco can not afford health insurance, according to the document(*1).
In 2001 The faculty senate and student government passed a resolution asking president Shalala to instate a living wage. However, Donna Shalala neglected to pass a living wage at that time for unidsclosed reasons(*2). Currently, several organizations on campus are trying to put pressure on the university to fund a Living Wage and provide access to health care for workers contracted out under the service company Unicco(*3).
Points of interest
- Bill Cosford Cinema
- Jerry Herman Ring Theater
- John C. Gifford Arboretum
- Lowe Art Museum
- Otto G. Richter Library
- "The Pit" (a tree-lined natural sinkhole near the old art buildings)
- Tom Kearns University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame
- BankUnited Center (formerly the Convocation Center)
- Wellness Center
Notable alumni
Arts & Entertainment
- Gloria Estefan - musician.
- Jeff Garlin - comedic actor, "Jeff Greene" on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- Jerry Herman - Broadway composer and lyricist, "Hello, Dolly!".
- Enrique Iglesias - musician.
- Dwayne Johnson ("The Rock") - actor, former professional wrestler.
- Nancy Kulp - actress, "Miss Hathaway" on The Beverly Hillbillies.
- Ray Liotta - actor.
- Grace Slick - lead singer, Jefferson Airplane.
Athletics
- Rick Barry - TBS professional basketball broadcaster, former professional basketball player, Golden State Warriors.
- Jerome Brown - former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles.
- Pat Burrell - professional baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies.
- Ken Dorsey - professional football player, San Francisco 49ers.
- Danny Graves - first Vietnamese-born Major League Baseball player (New York Mets).
- Michael Irvin - ESPN professional football broadcaster, former professional football player, Dallas Cowboys.
- Don James - former college football coach, University of Washington.
- Edgerrin James - professional football player, Indianapolis Colts.
- Jim Kelly - former professional football player, Buffalo Bills.
- Bernie Kosar - former professional football player, Cleveland Browns.
- Ray Lewis - professional football player, Baltimore Ravens.
- Willis McGahee - professional football player, Buffalo Bills.
- Jason Michaels - professional baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies.
- Santana Moss - professional football player, Washington Redskins.
- Clinton Portis - professional football player, Washington Redskins.
- Ed Reed - professional football player, Baltimore Ravens.
- Warren Sapp - professional football player, Oakland Raiders.
- Jeremy Shockey - professional football player, New York Giants.
- Sean Taylor - professional football player, Washington Redskins.
- Vinny Testaverde - professional football player, New York Jets.
- Jonathan Vilma - professional football player, New York Jets.
- Reggie Wayne - professional football player, Indianapolis Colts.
Business
- Michael Johns - health care executive, former White House speechwriter.
- Drew Rosenhaus - National Football League agent.
Law
Politics
- Alex Penelas - former Miami-Dade Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate.
Television
- Jill Arrington - college football sideline reporter, ESPN.
- Roy Firestone - sports journalist, formerly of ESPN.
- Suzy Kolber - professional football sideline reporter, ESPN.
- Marilyn Milian - judge, The People's Court television program.
- Trista Rehn - "The Bachelorette".
- Cristina Saralegui - television personality.
External links
- The official university website.
- UM School of Law website.
- Official UM athletics website.
- Iron Arrow Honor Society - the university's highest attainable honor.
- WVUM - university radio station.
- Famous University of Miami alumni.
- STANDUM - Student Organization of the Month at the University of Miami
Citations
1)VAN DER WERF, MARTIN . "How Much Should Colleges Pay Their Janitors?." The Chronicle of Higher Education (2001). 11 Dec 2005 <http://chronicle.com/weekly/v47/i47/47a02701.htm>.
2) "UM faculty senate news letter." UM Home > Faculty Senate Home page > 11/28/01 & 12/12/01 combined newsletter . 28 Nov 2001. University of Miami. 11 Dec. 2005 <http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2460-1;11897-3,00.html>.
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3)"STANDUM." Students Towards a New Democracy. 11 Dec. 2005 <www.standum.org>.